312: Chapter 312 The Scale of Resonance

When night fell, Qingshan Town settled into quiet early.

There were no night markets, no clamor, only the occasional bark of a dog echoing from deep within the town, reverberating along the empty bluestone streets.

Inside the inn room, the light of the oil lamp was dim and flickering, casting the shadows of two people onto the mottled earthen wall.

Ling Ye sat on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl of coarse tea that had already gone cold, without drinking it.

Old Shi sat on a stool, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, his breathing steady, making it impossible to tell if he was asleep or merely feigning rest.

The room remained quiet for a long time.

"Old Shi." Ling Ye spoke, his voice low but exceptionally clear in the silence.

Old Shi opened his eyes and looked at him.

Ling Ye set down the tea bowl, stood up, and walked to the window.

He pushed open the window, and the night breeze poured in, carrying the scent of fields and earth.

In the distance, the mountain peak where the Qingyun Sect was located shone with a faint, silvery-white halo under the moonlight, as if something were breathing silently at the summit.

"I will go into town tomorrow," Ling Ye said. "Teahouses, taverns, street vendors—these are the easiest places to hear useful information. I will try to listen more and speak less, to first get a grasp of the locals' way of life."

"What currency they use, what food they eat, what taboos they have, and what their attitude is toward the Sect. This basic information will help us build a preliminary understanding of this world."

He paused, then continued, "You go walk around outside the town to familiarize yourself with the terrain. See if there are any villages, roads, or checkpoints nearby, and if there are any obviously dangerous areas."

"Also, keep an eye out for the routes in and out of that mountain—how the Disciples of the Qingyun Sect come and go, whether there are fixed patrol routes, and if there are any checkpoints or reception areas at the foot of the mountain."

Old Shi was silent for a moment, then asked, "What are you worried about?"

Ling Ye did not answer immediately. He looked at the mountain peak shimmering with silver light under the moonlight outside the window, pondering for a moment before speaking: "I worry that the competition in this world is more intense than we imagined."

"The more abundant the Spiritual Qi, the more brutal the struggle for resources. Those Green-robed Disciples look well-trained, which indicates that this Sect has strict management."

"A strictly managed Sect is often not very friendly toward outsiders."

He turned around and looked at Old Shi: "Our current state is that of two penniless strangers with unknown origins and scars on our bodies. In any world, people like us are objects of suspicion. So, before we figure out the rules of this world, we must keep a low profile and try our best not to attract the attention of any faction."

Old Shi nodded: "Understood. Then tomorrow I will focus on observing the terrain and the routes in and out, and I will not initiate contact with anyone."

"Right," Ling Ye said. "We will meet back here at dusk to exchange information. Then, based on what we gather tomorrow, we will decide on our next steps."

After saying this, he sat back down on the edge of the bed. The light from the oil lamp cast uneven shadows across his face, making his expression look somewhat inscrutable.

Old Shi glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Do you... regarding this world..."

Ling Ye was silent for a while.

He said, "I can't quite put it into words. It's just a feeling—our arrival here is not a coincidence. As for why, I don't know yet."

He looked up at Old Shi: "We will find the answer."

Old Shi did not press further. He leaned back against the chair and closed his eyes.

Ling Ye blew out the oil lamp.

The room plunged into darkness.

Outside the window, the moonlight spilled onto the Qingyun Sect's mountain peak, and that silvery-white halo was still breathing silently. Ling Ye lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, eyes open, staring at the ceiling. He felt no drowsiness.